Redwood Valley convict charged $100,000 in restitution

A Redwood Valley man sentenced last month for his part in a high-speed chase and shooting at a deputy sheriff's car may have to pay his victims more than $100,000 in restitution, most of it to the state for a separate high-speed chase that left a California Highway Patrol officer injured.

Christopher Skaggs, 31, was sentenced to 13 years in prison Jan. 24 in Mendocino County Superior Court for two cases, including a Feb. 25, 2013 incident where he drove a speeding Thunderbird on the winding Highway 253 (known as Boonville Road) while his passenger, Walter K. Miller, leaned out the window and shot at the deputy's car, disabling it.

He took a plea bargain in December that dropped attempted murder and vicarious arming charges in exchange for his guilty plea to first-degree burglary for breaking into a Potter Valley home earlier the same day and stealing guns -- including the one Miller used in the shooting -- and other items.

Skaggs also admitted committing the Potter Valley burglary while out on bail in another felony case, a Nov. 14, 2012 incident where he led authorities on a high-speed chase that left a pursuing CHP officer injured.

The deal involved Skaggs pleading guilty in that case to charges of recklessly evading a peace officer causing injury and reckless evasion by driving in the oncoming lane.

The potential $105,374 in restitution for which Skaggs could be responsible includes $8,533.03 owed to the Potter Valley homeowners for the burglary, and $70,860.56 calculated so far that would go to the state compensation insurance fund to reimburse the cost of the injured CHP officer's medical bills.

Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster told the court Friday that the amount Skaggs owes the state for restitution in the November 2012 case will likely go up, since the state is still paying the officer's medical expenses.

Judge John Behnke granted the $8,533.03 restitution amount to the Potter Valley family, but opted to put off ruling on the restitution amount Skaggs will owe the state. Behnke said he would issue his ruling in writing.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@ukiahdj.com, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.